Alan Day Posted November 8, 2004 Share Posted November 8, 2004 As I have nearly finished two months of decorating,I thought I would rejoice the moment by starting a new topic. This was going to be "Another time another place" and I was going to launch into how nice it would be to play my concertina for Ballroom dancing to follow in both of my Grandfathers footsteps who both played music for ballroom dancing,but not on concertina. A strange thing has happened on TV however a programme that invites celebraties to join a dancer and then perform in a strict dancing contest has taken off in a big way and suddenly ballroom dancing is starting to catch on.I just wonder in a few years if I may get my chance after all. Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Wild Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 If not, you are welcome to come round and try the decorating which I should have been doing for the last few years! - John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellowbelle Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 As I have nearly finished two months of decorating,I thought I would rejoice the moment by starting a new topic. This was going to be "Another time another place" and I was going to launch into how nice it would be to play my concertina for Ballroom dancing to follow in both of my Grandfathers footsteps who both played music for ballroom dancing,but not on concertina............. First, congratulations on finishing the decorating. So, what songs are played for ballroom dancing? What would you do on concertina, play along with those songs, or do something more typical of the 'tina? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Day Posted November 9, 2004 Author Share Posted November 9, 2004 Well Wendy the Ballroom dance tunes are endless but three tunes I love playing on the concertina are I can`t give you anything but love baby (Quickstep) Love is the sweetest thing. (Foxtrot) Blue moon (Foxtrot) Lovely to play and lovely to dance to. My love of ballroom dancing started in a mixed way,I originally started to go to Ballroom dancing lessons to learn the Tango,but this formed part of the silver medal for dancing and I had to learn the bronze bit first ,which consisted of Waltz,Quickstep and Foxtrot.I moved out of the area a week after I passed my bronze and never did learn the Tango.I must admit being young at the time I cannot tell you why I was initially so keen on my dance lessons ,it was a mixture of the fact that I fancied my dance teacher, she was lovely to look at and a dream to dance with.Whatever it was it was an enjoyable experience and something which you never forget. Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquarussell Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 I got to this place (Concertina.net), and to playing the concertina through ballroom dance. I know that most people here are interested in Irish music. But I wanted to play Victorian Ballroom music. The concertina (Anglo or English) is exactly that, a Victorian age musical instrument. It frequently amazes people when they find out that the concertina isn't much older than it is. Or that it didn't originate in Italy. No Waltzes Mr Day? Mind you, you won't find me complaining about Foxtrots, I like them, too. Russell Hedges "Aquarussell" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Morse Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 Ballroom dancing.... I started out in 7th grade (against my Mom's wishes, but now I wish I had paid more attention!). I got back into it in the 80's when "vintage" dance was the rage around here. Mostly turn-of-the-century stuff. Lots of "animal dances" such as the foxtrot - which was invented around then so technically that dance wasn't Victorian, but originated (at least the dance did, though tunes in that tempo were around) after the Victorian time period. The foxtrot is pretty sedate compared to a lot of the others: turkey trot, buzzard lope, bunny hug, grizzly bear (one of my favorites!), lindy hop.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Day Posted November 9, 2004 Author Share Posted November 9, 2004 I forgot to mention "A Nightingale sang in Berkely Square"(Foxtrot) probably my all time favourite. I cannot say Russel that any Waltz tunes stick in my memory it was very much Daisy Daisy,Save the Last Dance for me etc but not anything I would recommend for you all to play. How about the young Frank Sinatra very early songs a fantastic Dance band singer. All lovely music. Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malcolm clapp Posted November 10, 2004 Share Posted November 10, 2004 I got to this place (Concertina.net), and to playing the concertina through ballroom dance. I know that most people here are interested in Irish music. But I wanted to play Victorian Ballroom music. The concertina (Anglo or English) is exactly that, a Victorian age musical instrument. Russell Hedges "Aquarussell" Russell, I note your interest in Victorian ballroom music. This interests me too. Schottishes, polkas, quadrilles, varsoviennes? Ezra Read? Felix Burns? Theo Bonheur? I would be interested to hear if you, or any one else, has any information on the above composers. Regards Malcolm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffwright Posted November 10, 2004 Share Posted November 10, 2004 Ignoring the total difference between Victorian Ballroom dancing and Modern Ballroom dancing. My grandmother was and my mother still is a ballroom dancing teacher so I was forced to to ballroom (gold) and latin (gold bar). I never did any since, but by chance I ended up playing in a "proper" dance band (on accordion, not concertina) so knew all about the dances and tempos required. Although the band were all dot-readers, they usually busked from books just with song titles in - a page of waltz titles, page of foxtrot titles etc. Ballroom, Old-tyme and Sequence were a big thing in Yorkshire in the 70s as there were so many Working Mens Clubs with musicians (around 250 just around Doncaster), so on nights-off, I used to go and listen to organists playing for Old-Tyme and pinch their tunes. Dancing has not died out in the pit-villages BUT the problem is, they will only dance to their tunes. One village will happily Veleta to Merry Widow, but the next village will not get up, so you need local knowledge. You also need a huge repertoire as you will play 3 veletas they don't like and you are just about to stop, and someone decides to get up - very fickle!! Usage seened to be three tunes then stop. If people stopped on the floor, play another three tunes. I suppose Duet concertinas or exteneded English concertinas would be fine for playing for modern ballroom dancing - don't know about Anglo? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Day Posted November 10, 2004 Author Share Posted November 10, 2004 I think that the Anglo is fine for trumpet parts,the triple toughing is a little bit more difficult. Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellowbelle Posted November 10, 2004 Share Posted November 10, 2004 Well Wendy the Ballroom dance tunes are endless.... You know, just last week or so I picked up a great songbook at a rare/used bookstore out in West Brookfield, Massachusetts, because it was all melody and chords with chord substitutions, and really GOOD chords -- edited/written by a pro. I think it had one of the tunes you mention -- I'll have to take another look. If I can find any web info re my 'find,' I'll give a link.... Since I like to sing along, I've decided to concentrate on chords on the concertina (rather than melody as much). I'm trying to memorize little two- and three- move progressions. So, gee, maybe I'll get a little repertoire of ballroom dancing tunes included! That would be fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellowbelle Posted November 10, 2004 Share Posted November 10, 2004 (edited) Okay, here's the book I got -- Dick Hyman's Professional Chord Changes and Substitutions for 100 Tunes Every Musician Should Know. Ekay Music, 1986. ISBN: 0943748143. And here's a link to a site selling it (though, I paid about $5.00 for my used copy!): http://www.goodmusic.co.uk/pages/product/p...cookie%5Ftest=1 Here's a list of the contents, copied/pasted from the site above: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ain't She Sweet Alone Together Am I Blue Angel Eyes Anything Goes April In Paris April Showers As Time Goes By Autumn In New York Avalon Begin The Beguine The Birth Of The Blues Blues In The Night Body And Soul But Not For Me Can't We Be Friends? Can't We Talk It Over Caravan Charleston Crazy Rhythm Dancing In The Dark Day By Day Days Of Wine And Roses Do It Again Dream Embraceable You Fascinating Rhythm Fine And Dandy Fools Rush In Get Happy Halleujah! How Long Has This Been Going On? I Can't Give You Anything But Love I Cover The Waterfront I Get A Kick Out Of You I Got Rhythm I Know That You Know I May Be Wrong I Only Have Eyes For You I Thought About You If I Could Be With You (One Hour Tonight) I Want To Be Happy I'll See You Again I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles Indian Summer It's Only A Paper Moon I've Got A Crush On You I've Got The World On A String The Japanese Sandman Jeepers Creepers Just One Of Those Things Limehouse Blues Liza Love For Sale Lover, Come Back To Me Lullaby Of Birdland Lulu's Back In Town Mack The Knife The Man I Love Misty Nighy and Day Oh Lady Be Good Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone Poor Butterfly Round Midnight S Wonderful Satin Doll Secret Love September In The Rain Skylark Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise Somebody Loves Me Someone To Watch Over Me Something To Remember You By Sometimes I'm Happy Soon Strike Up The Band The Summer Knows (Theme From Summer of '42) Sweet Georgia Brown Tea For Two This Love of Mine Thou Swell Three Little Words Time After Time A Time For Love Too Marvelous For Words The Very Thought Of You What Is This Thing Called Love? What's New? When Your Lover Has Gone With A Song In My Heart You And The Night And The Music You Are Too Beautiful You Do Something To Me You Go To My Head You Make Me Feel So Young You Took Advantage Of Me You're Getting To Be A Habit With Me You're The Top Yours Is My Heart Alone ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Are any of these titles familiar to you, Alan? Or, to any of you? Just wondering... edited to spell Alan's name correctly!!! Sorry.... Edited November 10, 2004 by bellowbelle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Day Posted November 10, 2004 Author Share Posted November 10, 2004 Wendy I know nearly all of them and have played nearly all of them but not on my concertina. The lovely ones I would choose I only have eyes for you The very thought of you Time after time Sweet Georgia Brown Satin Doll Misty Mack the Knife. You will recognise them as soon as you start. Tell you what Wendy put the concertina down and would have the next dance with me? Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Day Posted November 10, 2004 Author Share Posted November 10, 2004 John as far as your decorating is concerned send me your paintbrush and I will pull the bristles out one by one. Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellowbelle Posted November 11, 2004 Share Posted November 11, 2004 Tell you what Wendy put the concertina down and would have the next dance with me? Al Sure!! The world needs more comedy...and the sight of me doing ballroom dancing would definitely be just that! But, I'd probably try it, anyway, for the fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquarussell Posted November 11, 2004 Share Posted November 11, 2004 "Russell, I note your interest in Victorian ballroom music. This interests me too. Schottishes, polkas, quadrilles, varsoviennes? Ezra Read? Felix Burns? Theo Bonheur? I would be interested to hear if you, or any one else, has any information on the above composers. Regards Malcolm" Alas, I am a newcommer and ignorant. I can research locally though, and with your list of names as a starting point I have a head start. I have the book "The Concertina and How To Play It" by Paul de Ville, "Including 250 Patriotic and Sacred Songs"! It has the Lancers Quadrilles, all five! The Boston Hop Waltz, which is a Polka. Three Schottisches, too. But, oddly I think, no Mazurka or Mazur, and no Redowa. And no credits, not even for the Blue Danube Waltz. It is written for the Anglo, and some of the music is out of my Jackie's range. I guess I could find a program to fix that. . . There is a dance that is danced the same, Victorian to Modern age. The Viennese Waltz, the basic for which has remained unchanged for about a hundred-twenty years now. Or so they tell me, it was mostly before my time. Russell Hedges "Aquarussell" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Wild Posted November 11, 2004 Share Posted November 11, 2004 John as far as your decorating is concerned send me your paintbrush and I will pull the bristles out one by one.Al Sorry - I need it to brush the dust out from my bellow folds - John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Bradbury Posted November 13, 2004 Share Posted November 13, 2004 Wendy, Dick Hyman is an extraordiary and nearly legendary jazz piano player who is still alive and playing regularly. What a wonderful book you have there. I have had the pleasure of seeing Dick play at "Jazz Holidays" here in Florida with pick up band that included the likes of Ruby Braff, Dan Barrett, the Pizzorelli's (father and son). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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